Category: Speeches

  • Heidi Alexander – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Heidi Alexander – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Heidi Alexander on 2014-04-03.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 1 April 2014, Official Report, column 591W, on Southeastern network, what estimate he has made of demand on routes on the Southeastern network; which routes his Department believes require increased capacity provision on peak services; and when he expects capacity to be increased on these routes.

    Stephen Hammond

    The Department holds information collected by Southeastern about the level of demand on each of its routes. However, this data is held by DfT on a commercially confidential basis and so cannot be released. As part of its Long Term Planning Process, Network Rail will undertake a Kent Route Study during 2015/16 to identify which routes may require increased capacity provision. On the basis of this work, Ministers will consider priorities for funding capacity enhancements during railway Control Period 6 (2019-2024).

  • Lord Storey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Lord Storey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Storey on 2014-06-17.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to ensure that cookery is included in the curriculum as part of design and technology lessons.

    Lord Nash

    All pupils should be taught to cook and to apply the principles of nutrition and healthy eating. Design and Technology (D&T) is compulsory for all maintained schools from key stages 1 to 3 and the new D&T curriculum, which will be in force from September 2014, strengthens the requirements on schools to teach about food at primary and secondary. At primary, the curriculum will ensure pupils are taught about healthy eating, where food comes from and to prepare and cook a range of dishes. At secondary, for the first time, cooking will be compulsory at key stage 3: teachers will be also required to cover nutrition, diet and where food comes from.

  • Baroness Tonge – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Baroness Tonge – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2014-04-03.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they will take to preserve Palestinians’ rights to worship at their own holy sites within Jerusalem.

    Baroness Warsi

    We regularly urge the Israeli authorities to comply with their obligations under international law as an occupying power in East Jerusalem, including with regard to the protection of holy sites. We will continue to raise with the Israeli authorities our concerns over restrictions on movement and access and the Separation Barrier that limits access for Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza to holy sites in Jerusalem.

  • Lord Hunt of Kings Heath – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Lord Hunt of Kings Heath – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 2014-06-16.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to support transgenderpeople’s mental health and wellbeing.

    Earl Howe

    We expect people with transgender issues to have the same access to National Health Service treatment, including mental health services, as anybody else in the population. Mental Health has been a priority for this Government for several years now. We made this commitment explicit in the Health and Social Care Act 2012 which, for the first time, creates equal status for mental and physical health across Government and for the NHS and social care.

    Since April 2013, gender identity services have been commissioned by NHS England. NHS England will continue to work with the transgendered community, clinical experts and stakeholders through the clinical reference group for gender identity services, to produce a single and consistent policy for the whole of England.

    In order to ensure equitable access to services, an England-wide Interim Protocol was consulted on, developed and became operational on 1 November 2013. The Protocol is based on the previously published and well received Scottish Protocol. The Protocol relies on the publication of the Inter-Collegiate “Good practice guidelines for the treatment of adults with gender dysphoria” published at the end of October 2013. A fully consulted policy document and service specifications will be published during 2014.

    In addition, NHS England has commissioned a review of transgendered patients’ access to the NHS. This review has considered all aspects of access to NHS services and is currently being finalised in readiness for publishing.

  • Baroness Stern – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Baroness Stern – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Stern on 2014-04-03.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the conclusion of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons in his recent report on HMP Belmarsh that there was no evidence that the quarterly health reviews of all prisoners in the High Security Unit and the Special Security Unit required by the operating standards had been carried out.

    Lord Wallace of Saltaire

    The HSU / SSU is visited daily by a nurse who will speak with every prisoner to establish whether there are any issues. The GP will visit the unit weekly (as a minimum). As part of the HMIP Action Plan that is being developed the Operating Standards are currently under review which will address the issue regarding quarterly reviews.

    The reference in the report was regarding one prisoner who was seen with discipline staff present; the privacy and dignity of prisoners is taken very seriously within HMP Belmarsh, however this must be balanced against the risk that the individual poses to others. Prisoners will be seen without escorting staff unless the risk is deemed to be too high, this is an exceptional circumstance rather than the rule.

  • Viscount Craigavon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Viscount Craigavon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Viscount Craigavon on 2014-06-16.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what actions they will take to help implement the Stockholm Statement of Commitment developed at the April 2014 International Conference on Population and Development.

    Baroness Northover

    The UK Government is fully committed to the principles of the International Conference on Population and Development’s (ICPD) Programme of Action and will continue to uphold these principles in its development work. We consider 2014, as the twentieth anniversary and review year of the ICPD, as an important moment to recognise progress and to address remaining gaps and emerging challenges.

    We have been fully engaged in the intergovernmental process for the review of the ICPD, including actively participating in the regional and thematic conferences, the 47th Commission on Population and Development which took place in April of this year, as well as preparations for the upcoming special session at the United Nations General Assembly in September. The Stockholm Statement of Commitment was the outcome document agreed by participants attending the Sixth International Parliamentarians’ Conference on the Implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action, which also took place in April. Official representatives from the UK Government did not participate in the Stockholm parliamentarians’ meeting. However, the Stockholm Statement does endorse a number of the elements we have been supporting throughout our engagement in the ICPD review process and will continue to support, including that sexual and reproductive health and rights become a reality for all, without distinction of any kind.

  • Paul Blomfield – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Paul Blomfield – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Blomfield on 2014-04-03.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of international efforts to improve levels of safety and conditions of work in Bangladesh’s garment industry.

    Mr Alan Duncan

    I spent most of last week in Bangladesh, assessing the progress that has been made one year on from the tragedy of Rana Plaza. Steps have been taken to improve working conditions in the garment sector, including through factory inspections and strengthening the labour inspection regime. The UK’s support is focused on all areas where action is needed: improving building safety and working conditions, empowering workers and urging buyers to take responsibility for their supply chains.

  • Richard Fuller – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Richard Fuller – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Fuller on 2014-06-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, when his Department’s review of debt relief orders will be launched.

    Jenny Willott

    We plan to launch a review of debt relief orders this year.

  • Gloria De Piero – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Gloria De Piero – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gloria De Piero on 2014-04-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many and what proportion of small and medium-sized businesses were registered in each parliamentary constituency; and what the equivalent figures were in each of the last five years.

    Michael Fallon

    There is no central register of businesses. Companies House does have a register of companies but it cannot determine the number of companies classified as small and medium sized as defined by the Companies Act 2006. Information on companies registered in each parliamentary constituency could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  • Liam Byrne – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Liam Byrne – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Liam Byrne on 2014-06-16.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many meetings he has had with his Department’s Chief Scientific Adviser in the last 12 months.

    Andrea Leadsom

    As was the case under previous administrations, details of internal meetings are not normally disclosed.